Media elevator&#39;s current position identification method and a media handling device arranged with the same

ABSTRACT

A media handling device includes sensing means disposed in a media elevator that is movable in a generally-vertical travel path proximate to a generally-fixed surface. The sensing means detects a recorded information that is disposed in the surface. The resulting detected information is used to identify the media elevator&#39;s current position. Also, another media handling device includes a recorded information disposed in a movable media elevator. Sensing means are fixed proximate to a generally-vertical media elevator travel path. The recorded information is sensed and the resulting detected information is used to identify the media elevator&#39;s current position.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF OTHER PATENTS

The disclosures of the following two (2) U.S. Patents in their entiretyhereby are totally incorporated herein by reference:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,236 B2, issued to Kohji Shinkawa et al., granted 7Mar. 2006, entitled “Equipment unit with imperceptible informationrecorded thereon being used with an image forming device and an imageforming device comprising the same”; and

U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,816 B1, issued to Volker Warbus et al., granted 22May 2001, entitled “Printing or duplicating apparatus optionallyoperating with magnetic or non magnetic toner”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Media handling devices such as finishing devices and feeders are known.In current finishing devices and feeders, various methods are used toidentify and control the media elevator's current position.

Current methods involve three (3) photoelectric optical or “light”sensors. A first “comb” sensor and a second “limit” sensor are mountedon the elevator itself. A third “full” sensor is mounted near theelevator's bottom or “paper full” position.

The comb and limit elevator sensors, in turn, are arranged to detect twopatterns of holes or notches that are fabricated in a metal bracket thatis fixed near the elevator travel path. While the bracket solid areasprevent light transmission, the opposing bracket hole or notch areasallow light transmission. Hence, the comb and limit sensors are readilyable to detect these bracket hole or notch patterns.

The comb sensor detects the elevator's movement by sensing a “comb”-likepattern of intermittent protruding bracket fingers. Thus, as theelevator travels between the top and bottom positions, the comb sensortraverses the intermittent bracket fingers. As the comb sensor traversesa bracket finger area, the bracket finger prevents light transmissionand the comb sensor output turns “off”. Conversely, when the comb sensortraverses a gap between adjacent bracket fingers, the gap area, beingfree air, allows light transmission and the comb sensor output turns“on”. Hence the comb sensor detects elevator movement by sensingalternating intermittent “on” and “off” light patterns while traversingbracket fingers.

The limit sensor detects the elevator's top-limit and bottom-limitpositions by sensing two holes or “notches” fabricated in the brackettop and bottom end regions. The top-limit position is detected by thelimit sensor detecting the bracket top notch. The bottom-limit positionis detected when the limit sensor detects the bracket bottom notch andthe “full” sensor detects an elevator protruding “flag” member thatprevents light transmission in the elevator's bottom-limit position.

These present methods further utilize various algorithms to determineelevator position and direction. These methods require the elevator toinitialize (home) at some position which is usually at the top or bottomof travel. They measure position in the middle of travel by countingfrom the home position using stepper motor steps or sensor steps using alinear encoder. Often this process requires the elevator to travel tothe bottom (or top) of its range to home, and then the desiredintermediate position during printer cycle up. This method takes a longtime and can be costly depending on its complexity.

Thus, there is a need for the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method toidentify a media elevator's current position in a media handling device,the media handling device including a sensor disposed in a mediaelevator that is movable in a generally-vertical travel path proximateto a generally-fixed surface, the method comprising the sensor detectinga recorded information that is disposed in the surface thus forming adetected information and identifying the media elevator's currentposition based on the detected information.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method toidentify a media elevator's current position in a media handling device,the media handling device including a recorded information disposed inan included movable media elevator, the method comprising the recordedinformation being detected by one or more sensors that are fixedproximate to a generally-vertical media elevator travel path thusforming a detected information and identifying the media elevator'scurrent position based on the detected information.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a media handlingdevice including media elevator's current position identifying sensingmeans disposed in an included media elevator, the media elevator movablein a generally-vertical travel path proximate to a generally-fixedsurface that includes a recorded information disposed therein, therecorded information sensed to form a detected information which, inturn, is used by included processing means to identify the mediaelevator's current position.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a media handlingdevice including a recorded information disposed in an included movablemedia elevator, further including media elevator's current positionidentifying sensing means fixed proximate to a generally-vertical mediaelevator travel path, the recorded information being arranged to besensed to form a detected information which, in turn, is used byincluded processing means to identify the media elevator's currentposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts a media handling device 100 arranged in accordance with afirst embodiment of a media elevator's current position identificationmethod, in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the mediahandling device 100 includes a media elevator 1, a generally-fixedsurface 3 with recorded information 10 disposed therein, a sensor 30 anda processing means 50. The sensor 30 is disposed in the media elevator1. The media elevator 1 is movable in a generally-vertical travel path 8proximate to the surface 3. The media elevator travel path 8 includes abottom position 8.1, one or more intermediate positions 8.5 and a topposition 8.9. FIG. 1 shows in solid lines the media elevator 1 as beingdisposed in its top position 8.9. Conversely, FIG. 1 also shows inbroken lines the media elevator (depicted by reference number 1′) asbeing disposed in its bottom position 8.1.

FIG. 2 depicts barcode symbols 10.1 and the sensor 30.

FIG. 3 depicts a first waveform of sensor 30 output voltage-versus-time.

FIG. 4 depicts a second waveform of sensor 30 outputvoltage-versus-time.

FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment 500 of a flow diagram for a mediaelevator's current position identification method or process, inaccordance with the present invention. As shown, the process 500comprises a first step 503 of detecting the recorded information 10 anda second step 505 of identifying the media elevator's current position.

FIG. 6 depicts a media handling device 600 arranged in accordance with asecond embodiment of a media elevator's current position identificationmethod, in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the mediahandling device 600 includes a media elevator 101 with recordedinformation 110 disposed therein, one or more sensors 130 and aprocessing means 50. The media elevator 101 is movable in agenerally-vertical travel path 8. The media elevator travel path 8includes a bottom position 8.1, one or more intermediate positions 8.5and a top position 8.9. FIG. 6 shows in solid lines the media elevator101 as being disposed in its top position 8.9. Conversely, FIG. 6 alsoshows in broken lines the media elevator in broken lines (depicted byreference number 101′) as being disposed in its bottom position 8.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, a media handlingdevice includes sensing means disposed in a media elevator that ismovable in a generally-vertical travel path proximate to agenerally-fixed surface. The sensing means detects a recordedinformation that is disposed in the surface. The resulting detectedinformation is used to identify the media elevator's current positionwith respect to the media elevator travel path. Also, another mediahandling device includes a recorded information disposed in a movablemedia elevator. Sensing means are fixed proximate to agenerally-vertical media elevator travel path. The recorded informationis sensed and the resulting detected information is used to identify themedia elevator's current position with respect to the media elevatortravel path.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a media handling device 100arranged in accordance with a first embodiment of a media elevator'scurrent position identification method or process 500, in accordancewith the present invention. As shown, the media handling device 100includes a sensor 30 that is disposed in a media elevator 1. In oneembodiment a media stack 2 comprising one or more sheets of media isdisposed on the media elevator 1.

The media elevator 1 is movable in a generally-vertical media elevatortravel path 8. The media elevator travel path 8 includes a mediaelevator travel path bottom position 8.1, one or more media elevatortravel path intermediate positions 8.5 and a media elevator travel pathtop position 8.9.

The media elevator travel path 8, in turn, is proximate to agenerally-fixed surface 3.

In accordance with the present invention, the surface 3 includes arecorded information 10 that is arranged to be detected by the sensor 30to identify the media elevator's current position with respect to themedia elevator travel path 8.

As shown, in various embodiments the recorded information 10 includes abottom position recorded information 11, one or more quanta ofintermediate position recorded information 15 and a top positionrecorded information 19.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor 30 detects the recorded information 10 bymeans of a sensing signal 29. Based on detecting the recordedinformation 10, a sensor output 49 is provided to the processing means50.

In accordance with the present invention, the processing means 50 isconstructed and arranged to perform the process 500 that is depicted inFIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in step 503 a detected information is formedbased on detecting the recorded information 10 by the sensor 30.Further, in step 505 the media elevator 1's current position in itstravel path 8 is identified based on the detected information formed instep 503.

Referring again to FIG. 1, with continued cross-reference to FIG. 5, invarious embodiments the process 500 identifies the media elevator 1'scurrent position as being its bottom position 8.1 based on the sensor 30detecting the bottom position recorded information 11.

Further, in various embodiments the process 500 identifies the mediaelevator 1's current position as being one or more of its intermediatepositions 8.5 based on the sensor 30 detecting the one or more quanta ofintermediate position recorded information 15.

Also, in various embodiments the process 500 identifies the mediaelevator 1's current position as being its top position 8.9 based on thesensor 30 detecting the top position recorded information 19.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in various embodiments the recordedinformation 10 includes one or more machine-detectable symbols.

Moreover, in various embodiments the machine-detectable symbols arearranged to be detected by any of magnetic signals, radio signals,infrared signals, machine vision, optical signals or ultrasonic signals.

Further, in various embodiments the recorded information 10 comprisesone or more barcode symbols such as, for example, the barcode symbolsdepicted in FIG. 2 as reference number 10.1.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in various embodiments the barcode symbols10.1 comprise a barcode array 4. As shown, in one embodiment the barcodearray 4 includes a bottom position barcode pattern 11 that is used bythe process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's current position asbeing its bottom position 8.1.

Also, in various embodiments the barcode array 4 further includes one ormore media elevator intermediate position barcode patterns 15 that areused by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's currentposition as being one or more of its intermediate positions 8.5.

Moreover, in various embodiments the array 4 further forms a topposition barcode pattern 19 that is used by the process 500 to identifythe media elevator's current position as being its top position 8.9.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is depicted a media handling device 600arranged in accordance with a second embodiment of a media elevator'scurrent position identification method, in accordance with the presentinvention.

As shown, the media handling device 600 includes a recorded information110 that is disposed in a media elevator 101. In one embodiment a mediastack 2 comprising one or more sheets of media is disposed on the mediaelevator 101.

The media elevator 101 is movable in a generally-vertical media elevatortravel path 8. The media elevator travel path 8 includes a mediaelevator travel path bottom position 8.1, one or more media elevatortravel path intermediate positions 8.5 and a media elevator travel pathtop position 8.9.

In accordance with the present invention, the media elevator 101includes a recorded information 110 that is arranged to be detected byone or more included sensors 130 to identify the media elevator'scurrent position with respect to the media elevator travel path 8.

As shown in FIG. 6 in various embodiments, the one or more sensors 130are arranged in a sensor array 104.

Still referring to FIG. 6, in various embodiments the one or moresensors 130 includes a bottom position sensor 131, one or moreintermediate position sensors 135 and a top position sensor 139.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom position sensor 131 detects the recordedinformation 110 by means of a first sensing signal 121. Based ondetecting the recorded information 110, a first sensor output 141 isprovided to the processing means 50.

Also as shown in FIG. 6, the one or more intermediate position sensors135 detects the recorded information 110 by means of a second sensingsignal 125. Based on detecting the recorded information 110, a secondsensor output 145 is provided to the processing means 50.

Also as shown in FIG. 6, the top position sensor 139 detects therecorded information 110 by means of an additional sensing signal 129.Based on detecting the recorded information 110, an additional sensoroutput 149 is provided to the sensing means 50.

In accordance with the present invention, the processing means 50 isconstructed and arranged to perform the process 500 as depicted in FIG.5.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in step 503 a detected information is formedbased on detecting the recorded information 110 by the one or moresensors 130. Further, in step 505 the media elevator 101's currentposition in its travel path 8 is identified based on the detectedinformation formed in step 503.

Referring again to FIG. 6, with continued cross-reference to FIG. 5, invarious embodiments the process 500 identifies the media elevator 101'scurrent position as being its bottom position 8.1 based on the bottomposition sensor 131 detecting 121 the recorded information 110.

Further, in various embodiments the process 500 identifies the mediaelevator 101's current position as being one or more of its intermediatepositions 8.5 based on the one or more intermediate position sensors 135detecting 125 the recorded information 110.

Also, in various embodiments the process 500 identifies the mediaelevator 101 current position as being its top position 8.9 based on thetop position sensor 139 detecting 129 the recorded information 110.

Still referring to FIG. 6, in various embodiments the recordedinformation 110 includes one or more machine-detectable symbols.

Moreover, in various embodiments the machine-detectable symbols arearranged to be detected by any of magnetic signals, radio signals,infrared signals, machine vision, optical signals or ultrasonic signals.

Further, in various embodiments the recorded information 110 comprisesone or more barcode symbols such as, for example, the barcode symbolsdepicted in FIG. 2 as reference number 10.1.

Referring again to FIG. 6, in various embodiments the barcode symbols10.1 comprise a barcode array similar or identical to the barcode array4 that is described above in connection with FIG. 1.

Referring now generally to FIGS. 1-6, the processing means 50 comprisesany suitable means and apparatus for enabling the functions andprocesses as described herein.

In various embodiments, the recorded information 10 is arranged,configured and embodied to be detectable by the sensor 30.

Also in various embodiments, the recorded information 110 is arranged,configured and embodied to be detected by the one or more sensors 130.

In various embodiments, the various recorded information 10 and 110comprise any one or more of barcodes, Q-codes, symbols, letters,numbers, characters, markings or other indicia that are capable of beingdetected by the media handling devices 100 and 600.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, in various embodiments the recordedinformation 10 and 110 are exclusively machine-detectable and thus notcapable of being observed, perceived, detected, read, received ordiscerned by the human naked eye, and, conveying, transmitting, orrepresenting

Referring still to FIGS. 1-6, in addition and supplemental to beingmachine-detectable and machine-readable, in various embodiments therecorded information 10 and 110 are further arranged, configured andembodied also to be human detectable and thus visible to the human nakedeye. In one embodiment, for example, the recorded information 10 and 110comprise barcode symbols which barcode symbols are both, first,machine-detectable by a suitable barcode detecting means or softwareand, second, visible to and detectable by the human naked eye.

In various embodiments, the recorded information 10 and 110 comprisehuman-visible-and-machine-detectable markings, letters, numbers orsymbols.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, in various embodiments the recordedinformation 10 and 110 are machine-detectable by the respective mediahandling devices 100 and 600 and, in addition, a portion, a part, a few,or some, though perhaps not totally all, of these same recordedinformation items 10 and 110 also are human detectable and thus visibleto the human naked eye.

In one embodiment, for example, any of the recorded information 10 and110 are based on the teachings of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.7,010,236 B2, issued to Kohji Shinkawa et al., granted 7 Mar. 2006,entitled “Equipment unit with imperceptible information recorded thereonbeing used with an image forming device and an image forming devicecomprising the same” (hereinafter “Shinkawa”), the full, absolute andcomplete disclosure of which Shinkawa patent herein is incorporated byreference verbatim, and with the same effect as though such disclosurewere hereinat presented and reproduced in its entirety. See, forexample, Shinkawa from column 2, line 44 to column 4, line 20; andcolumn 8, lines 3-7.

In one embodiment, for example, any of the recorded information 10 and110 are based on magnetic ink character recognition (“MICR”) technology,as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,236,816 B1, issued toVolker Warbus et al., granted 22 May 2001, entitled “Printing orduplicating apparatus optionally operating with magnetic or non magnetictoner” (hereinafter “Warbus”), the full, absolute and completedisclosure of which Warbus patent herein is incorporated by referenceverbatim, and with the same effect as though such disclosure werehereinat presented and reproduced in its entirety.

In one embodiment, for example, any of the recorded information 10 and110 are based on the well-known and common Radio FrequencyIdentification (“RFID”) tag technology.

In one embodiment, for example, any of the recorded information 10 and110 are based on the well-known and common machine vision technology.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, in various embodiments any of the recordedinformation 10 and 110 comprise barcode symbols and the respectivesensors 30 and 130 are arranged to detect the same.

Further, in various embodiments any of the recorded information 10 and110 comprise machine-detectable symbols capable of being detected bymagnetic signals and the respective sensors 30 and 130 are arranged todetect the same.

Also, in various embodiments any of the recorded information 10 and 110comprise machine-detectable symbols capable of being detected by radiosignals and the respective sensors 30 and 130 are arranged to detect thesame.

Further, in various embodiments any of the recorded information 10 and110 comprise machine-detectable symbols capable of being detected byinfrared signals and the respective sensors 30 and 130 are arranged todetect the same.

Also, in various embodiments any of the recorded information 10 and 110comprise machine-detectable symbols capable of being detected by machinevision signals and the respective sensors 30 and 130 are arranged todetect the same.

Further, in various embodiments any of the recorded information 10 and110 comprise machine-detectable symbols capable of being detected byoptical signals and the respective sensors 30 and 130 are arranged todetect the same.

Also, in various embodiments any of the recorded information 10 and 110comprise machine-detectable symbols capable of being detected byultrasonic signals and the respective sensors 30 and 130 are arranged todetect the same.

In one embodiment, a sensor that is commonly used for barcode sensinghas the capability of triggering off alternating white and black bars(barcode strip). A custom barcode strip that may be used in conjunctionwith the sensor is mounted on the media elevator or the inner wall ofthe stacker/feeder such that it is opposite the sensor. As the mediaelevator moves, the bar code passes in front of the sensor and theoutput is monitored. As the media elevator is moving, the exact positionof media elevator and direction of media elevator movement are known.This enables a more timely homing algorithm and cost reduction toexisting solutions.

In one embodiment, the sensor has a single beam laser illumination at 45degrees and detector at 0 degrees. The threshold for the sensor tochange state is approximately 50% reflectance. White paper reflectanceexceeds 80%, solid black print reflectance is typically less than 10%.FIG. 1 shows the sensor 30 mounted on the moving portion (tray) andbarcode 10 on the inner wall of the stacker/feeder, so that barcodestrip passes within its focal length of the sensor.

An alternate orientation, depicted in FIG. 6, is possible having thesensor 130 on the inner wall of the stacker/feeder and the barcode 110on the paper tray.

Further to these embodiments, when the FIG. 1 sensor 30 or the FIG. 6sensor 130 “sees” white, the output signal is low; the black stripscause a high signal.

Further to these embodiments, the most basic barcode strip is designedwith 1 mm increments alternating white and black. It also has a specificcode pattern at the bottom of travel and a different code pattern at thetop of travel. Additional unique code patterns may be used forintermediate locations in the strip. While the tray is in motion, themonitoring circuit “reads” the sensor output and knows if the tray is atthe top, bottom, or intermediate locations of travel, or moving inbetween. This eliminates the expensive “comb-like” metal brackets. Usingintermediate bar code patterns allows a quicker home routine thanpresent methods.

The barcode strip can be white label with printed black marks. Also,black marking could be silk screened directly on a metallic surface.Both options reduce cost and assembly complexity of the current methods.

An additional enhancement to this design is to use alternating widthcode strips to determine up/down direction of the tray. This isillustrated in FIGS. 2-4.

Thus, an example of a bar code that may determine the media elevator'sdirection of travel is depicted in FIG. 2.

Also, a bar code sensor output signal corresponding to the mediaelevator traveling in the down direction of FIG. 2 is depicted in FIG.3.

Further, a bar code sensor output signal corresponding to the mediaelevator traveling in the up direction of FIG. 2 is depicted in FIG. 4.

Thus there is described the first aspect of the invention, namely, amethod 500 to identify a media elevator's current position in a mediahandling device 100, the media handling device including a sensor 30disposed in a media elevator 1 that is movable in a generally-verticaltravel path 8 proximate to a generally-fixed surface 3, the methodcomprising the sensor 30 detecting 29 a recorded information 10 that isdisposed in the surface 3 thus forming 503 a detected information andidentifying 505 the media elevator's current position based on thedetected information.

In a first variation of the first aspect, the recorded information 10includes a bottom position recorded information 11 that is arranged tobe used by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's currentposition as being an included bottom position 8.1.

In a second variation of the first aspect, the recorded information 10includes a top position recorded information 19 that is arranged to beused by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's currentposition as being an included top position 8.9.

In a third variation of the first aspect, the recorded information 10includes one or more quanta of intermediate position recordedinformation 15 that are arranged to be used by the process 500 toidentify the media elevator 1's current position as being one or moreincluded intermediate media elevator positions 8.5.

In a fourth variation of the first aspect, the recorded information 10includes one or more machine-detectable symbols.

In a fifth variation of the first aspect, the machine-detectable symbolsare arranged to be detected by any of magnetic signals, radio signals,infrared signals, machine vision, optical signals or ultrasonic signals.

In a sixth variation of the first aspect, the recorded information 10comprises one or more barcode symbols 10.1.

In a seventh variation of the first aspect, the barcode symbols 10.1comprise a barcode array 4, the barcode array 4 including a bottomposition barcode pattern 11 that is arranged to be used by the process500 to identify the media elevator 1's current position as being anincluded bottom position 8.1.

In an eighth variation of the first aspect, the barcode array 4 furtherincludes a top position barcode pattern 19 that is arranged to be usedby the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's current positionas being an included top position 8.9.

In a ninth variation of the first aspect, the barcode array 4 furtherincludes one or more intermediate position barcode patterns 15 that arearranged to be used by the process 500 to identify the media elevator1's current position as being one or more included intermediatepositions 8.5.

Also, there is described the second aspect of the invention, namely, amethod 500 to identify a media elevator's current position in a mediahandling device 600, the media handling device including a recordedinformation 110 disposed in an included movable media elevator 101, themethod comprising the recorded information being detected by one or moresensors 130 that are fixed proximate to a generally-vertical mediaelevator travel path 8 thus forming 503 a detected information andidentifying 505 the media elevator's current position based on thedetected information.

In a first variation of the second aspect, the one or more sensors 130includes a bottom position sensor 131 that is arranged to be used by theprocess 500 to identify the media elevator 101's current position asbeing an included bottom position 8.1.

In a second variation of the second aspect, the one or more sensors 130includes a top position sensor 139 that is arranged to be used by theprocess 500 to identify the media elevator 101's current position asbeing an included top position 8.9.

In a third variation of the second aspect, the one or more sensors 130includes one or more intermediate position sensors 135 that are arrangedto be used by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 101'scurrent position as being one or more included intermediate positions8.5.

Also, there is described the third aspect of the invention, namely, amedia handling device 100 including media elevator's current positionidentifying sensing means 30 disposed in an included media elevator 1,the media elevator movable in a generally-vertical travel path 8proximate to a generally-fixed surface 3 that includes a recordedinformation 10 disposed therein, the recorded information sensed to form503 a detected information which, in turn, is used by includedprocessing means 50 to identify 505 the media elevator's currentposition.

In a first variation of the third aspect, the recorded information 10includes a bottom position recorded information 11 that is arranged tobe used by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's currentposition as being an included bottom position 8.1.

In a second variation of the third aspect, the recorded information 10includes a top position recorded information 19 that is arranged to beused by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's currentposition as being an included top position 8.9.

In a third variation of the third aspect, the recorded information 10includes one or more quanta of intermediate position recordedinformation 15 that are used by the process 500 to identify the mediaelevator 1's current position as being one or more included intermediatepositions 8.5.

In a fourth variation of the third aspect, the recorded information 10includes one or more machine-detectable symbols.

In a fifth variation of the third aspect, the machine-detectable symbolsare arranged to be detected by any of magnetic signals, radio signals,infrared signals, machine vision, optical signals or ultrasonic signals.

In a sixth variation of the third aspect, the recorded information 10comprises one or more barcode symbols 10.1.

In a seventh variation of the third aspect, the barcode symbols 10.1 arearranged to form a barcode array 4, the barcode array 4 including abottom position barcode pattern 11 that is arranged to be used by theprocess 500 to identify the media elevator 1's current position as beingan included bottom position 8.1.

In an eighth variation of the third aspect, the barcode array 4 furtherincludes a top position barcode pattern 19 that is arranged to be usedby the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's current positionas being an included top position 8.9.

In a ninth variation of the third aspect, the barcode array 4 furtherincludes one or more intermediate position barcode patterns 15 that areused by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 1's currentposition as being one or more included intermediate positions 8.5.

Also, there is described the fourth aspect of the invention, namely, amedia handling device 600 including a recorded information 110 disposedin an included movable media elevator 101, further including mediaelevator's current position identifying sensing means 130 fixedproximate to a generally-vertical media elevator travel path 8, therecorded information 110 being arranged to be sensed to form 503 adetected information which, in turn, is used by included processingmeans 50 to identify 505 the media elevator's current position.

In a first variation of the fourth aspect, the one or more sensors 130includes a bottom position sensor 131 that is arranged to be used by theprocess 500 to identify the media elevator 101's current position asbeing an included bottom position 8.1.

In a second variation of the fourth aspect, the one or more sensors 130includes a top position sensor 139 that is arranged to be used by theprocess 500 to identify the media elevator 101's current position asbeing an included top position 8.9.

In a third variation of the fourth aspect, the one or more sensors 130includes one or more intermediate position sensors 135 that are arrangedto be used by the process 500 to identify the media elevator 101'scurrent position as being one or more included intermediate positions8.5.

The table below lists the drawing element reference numbers togetherwith their corresponding written description:

-   No.: Description:-   1 media elevator-   1′ media elevator in media elevator travel path bottom position 8.1-   2 media stack-   3 surface-   4 recorded information array, barcode array-   8 media elevator travel path-   8.1 media elevator travel path bottom position-   8.5 media elevator travel path intermediate position(s)-   8.9 media elevator travel path top position-   10 recorded information-   10.1 barcode symbols-   11 travel path bottom position recorded information-   15 travel path intermediate position(s) recorded information-   19 travel path top position recorded information-   29 sensing signal-   30 sensor-   49 sensor output-   50 processing means-   100 media handling device-   101 media elevator-   101′ media elevator in media elevator travel path bottom position    8.1-   104 sensor array-   121 sensing signal-   125 sensing signal-   129 sensing signal-   130 sensor(s)-   131 travel path bottom position sensor-   135 travel path intermediate position(s) sensor(s)-   139 travel path top position sensor-   141 bottom position sensor output-   145 intermediate position(s) sensor(s) output(s)-   149 top position sensor output-   500 media elevator's current position identification method-   501 start-   503 detecting-   505 identify position-   507 end-   600 media handling device

While particular embodiments have been described hereinabove,alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and substantialequivalents that are or may be presently unforeseen may arise toapplicants or others skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appendedclaims as filed and as they may be amended are intended to embrace allsuch alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements andsubstantial equivalents.

1. A method to identify a media elevator's current position in a media handling device, the media handling device including a sensor disposed in a media elevator that is movable in a generally-vertical travel path proximate to a generally-fixed surface, the method comprising the sensor detecting a recorded information that is disposed in the surface thus forming a detected information and identifying the media elevator's current position based on the detected information.
 2. The method of claim 1, the recorded information including a bottom position recorded information arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included bottom position.
 3. The method of claim 2, the recorded information including a top position recorded information arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included top position.
 4. The method of claim 3, the recorded information including one or more quanta of intermediate position recorded information arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as one or more included intermediate positions.
 5. The method of claim 1, the recorded information including one or more machine-detectable symbols.
 6. The method of claim 5, the machine-detectable symbols arranged to be detected by any of magnetic signals, radio signals, infrared signals, machine vision, optical signals or ultrasonic signals.
 7. The method of claim 5, the recorded information comprising one or more barcode symbols.
 8. The method of claim 7, the barcode symbols comprising a barcode array, the barcode array including a bottom position barcode pattern arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included bottom position.
 9. The method of claim 8, the barcode array further including a top position barcode pattern arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included top position.
 10. The method of claim 9, the barcode array further including one or more intermediate position barcode patterns arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as one or more included intermediate positions.
 11. A method to identify a media elevator's current position in a media handling device, the media handling device including a recorded information disposed in an included movable media elevator, the method comprising the recorded information being detected by one or more sensors that are fixed proximate to a generally-vertical media elevator travel path thus forming a detected information and identifying the media elevator's current position based on the detected information.
 12. The method of claim 11, the one or more sensors including a bottom position sensor arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included bottom position.
 13. The method of claim 12, the one or more sensors including a top position sensor arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included top position.
 14. The method of claim 13, the one or more sensors including one or more intermediate position sensors arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as one or more included intermediate positions.
 15. A media handling device including media elevator's current position identifying sensing means disposed in an included media elevator, the media elevator movable in a generally-vertical travel path proximate to a generally-fixed surface that includes a recorded information disposed therein, the recorded information sensed to form a detected information which, in turn, is used by included processing means to identify the media elevator's current position.
 16. The media handling device of claim 15, the recorded information including a bottom position recorded information arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included bottom position.
 17. The media handling device of claim 16, the recorded information including a top position recorded information arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included top position.
 18. The media handling device of claim 17, the recorded information including one or more quanta of intermediate position recorded information arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as one or more included intermediate positions.
 19. The media handling device of claim 15, the recorded information including one or more machine-detectable symbols.
 20. The media handling device of claim 19, the machine-detectable symbols arranged to be detected by any of magnetic signals, radio signals, infrared signals, machine vision, optical signals or ultrasonic signals.
 21. The media handling device of claim 19, the recorded information comprising one or more barcode symbols.
 22. The media handling device of claim 21, the barcode symbols comprising a barcode array, the barcode array including a bottom position barcode pattern arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included bottom position.
 23. The media handling device of claim 22, the barcode array further including a top position barcode pattern arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included top position.
 24. The media handling device of claim 23, the barcode array further including one or more intermediate position barcode patterns arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as one or more included intermediate positions.
 25. A media handling device including a recorded information disposed in an included movable media elevator, further including media elevator's current position identifying sensing means fixed proximate to a generally-vertical media elevator travel path, the recorded information being arranged to be sensed to form a detected information which, in turn, is used by included processing means to identify the media elevator's current position.
 26. The media handling device of claim 25, the one or more sensors including a bottom position sensor arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included bottom position.
 27. The media handling device of claim 26, the one or more sensors including a top position sensor arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as an included top position.
 28. The media handling device of claim 27, the one or more sensors including one or more intermediate position sensors arranged to identify the media elevator's current position as one or more included intermediate positions. 